Apple's announcement of all
new dual processor Power Mac G5 workstations have really gotten
many architects excited about their technology again. At the center
of this excitement is a convergence of interests and patterns of
change in the architectural industry that fit well with Apple's
new Power Macs. The profession as a whole is seriously entering
into its second great technology transformation with the growing
adoption of BIM (building information modeling) over CADD
(computer-aided drafting and design). While this transformation
from CAD to BIM will likely take about a decade—following the
pattern of the last transformation from pencil and paper to CAD—what
is different today is the growing sophistication of architects over
information technology choices and requirements. Today architects
are increasingly interested in harnessing more powerful systems
but only if they pay for their extra costs in productivity enhancements.

Productivity At A Bargain

David Caruso, Director of Information Technology + Graphic Design,
at Flansburgh Associates, Inc., a leading Boston-based architectural
practice, felt enthusiastic about Apple's new Power Mac lineup.
"Since we are really watching our budget right now, it's good
to see that the dual processor machines can still be inexpensive".
Admitting that even the base model could be a little too powerful
as a general 2D CAD workstation, David added that it was easily
a wise investment for his firm. Flansburgh Associates is a very
large, enterprise-level practice focused on a variety of work including
educational architecture. The firm is one of the largest VectorWorks-based
architectural offices in the world and one of the largest firms
in Boston.

"3D modeling and rendering is only going to get more popular
at FAI because of the advances in VectorWorks
11's 3D technology," said David. "We will want these
dual processor G5 machines as our 3D CAD and rendering workstations.
At $2,000, they're a bargain."

Apple's Innovation Inspires with Cool Technology - Literally

Pete Evans AIA, an architect and university lecturer in the department
of architecture at Iowa State University said Apple's latest Power
Mac G5 machines show that the company continues to lead and "inspire
the industry and enables new possibilities for architecture and
design."

"Another leading-edge design tool", says Pete. "This
is the machine that can run anything AEC can throw at it. The dual
2.5Ghz model and OS X will be able to run any 3D visualization
and AEC production software faster than anything on the planet."
Pete was particularly impressed with the liquid cooling system in
the dual 2.5Ghz model. So was David Caruso at Flansburgh Associates,
which sees more architects going mobile and needing the power and
strength of a powerful workstation in the field.

"As for the PowerBooks,
I'm getting a bit more demand from the architects for mobility,"
says David. "As we're expanding our reach to markets outside
of Massachusetts, our architects enjoy having a PowerBook with them
for client presentations and working out design issues at home or
on the road. The liquid cooling system of the new Power Mac G5 excites
me because it will likely have to be an essential feature in the
future of Apple's PowerBook line. We will then be able to continue
to enhance our firm's mobile technology options."

Final Thoughts

Apple's leading hardware technologies continue to come out at a
rapid pace. Just yesterday the company announced AirPort
Express, an extremely affordable streaming music solution for
iTunes users on both Windows and Macintosh. The new Power Mac G5
machines demonstrate Apple's willingness to push ahead with alternative
cooling methods, enabling the company to push forward with the benefits
of dual processor systems. While last year Apple introduced the
benefits of 64-bit computing to the masses with the first wave of
Power Mac G5's, this year the company is bringing advanced cooling,
and a complete dual processor architecture down to a very affordable
price level. Expect Steve Jobs to showcase new Mac OS X technologies
that take advantage of these new hardware features at the Apple's
Worldwide Developers Conference this June.

Tiger, the name of the next Mac OS X update, will likely have more
code optimized for both the 64-bit nature of the G5 and Apple's
multiple-processor machines. Already, Apple's professional video
products have begun harnessing the full power of the new Power Macs,
as do many scientific applications used in medicine and biotechnology.
Expect even more professional 3D and engineering CAD software to
follow suit.